Electric amalgamator



[No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. RAE. ELECTRIC AMALG-AMATOR.

No.- 399,209. Patented Mar. 5, 1889.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. H. RAE.

ELECTRIC AMALGAMATOR.

No. 399,209. Patented Mar. 5, 1889.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. H. RAE. ELECTRIC AMALGAMATOR.

N0.'399,209. Patented Mar. 5, 1889.

N. PEI'ERS, PIIMO Unirno STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

.IITIU ll. RAE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, (AI.II ORN IA.

ELECTRIC AMALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,209, dated March 5, 1889.

Application filed February 16, 183B .l'o r11! [r71 om. ff viz-(1y concern.-

Ile it known that l, .l Unto ll. RAE, of. the city and count of San lf rancisco, State of California,have invented an Improvement in Electric -.\malgamators; and I hereby declare the 'l'ollowing to be aljull, clear, and exact description olf thev same.

My invention relates to an apparatus by which ores, especially of. precious metals, may be more cilieiently worked; and it consists in the constructions and combinations of devices which I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim. I

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a general view of the whole apparatus. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is an enlarged vertical section of a single pan or settler, showing its interior construction and the relative positions of the anodes and cathodes. Fig. 23 is a plan view of the pan, showing the siirrers or shoes. Fig. 4 an enlarged view of one of the shoes or plows. Fig. 5, Sheet 3-3, is an enlarged perspective view of one of the anodes employed in the pans.

A A are pans, vc els, or settlers, which may be arranged in series of two or more, as may be desired. In the present case I have shown a series of live of these settlers, which consist oi tubs of wood or other material. \Vit-hin these tubs are central cones, (,through which the vertical shafts D pass, and these shafts are caused to rotate by bevel-gears E in the manner usually employed in such pans. lTpon the upper ends of. the shafts I) are so cured the yokes I and these vokcs, extending dmvnward into the tubs or pans outside of the central cones, have the radial arms G secured to them. These armsearry the shoes orstirrcrs ll, by which the material within the pan or tub is kept agitated and properly loosened up. The extreme outer shoes have their points turned outwardly, as shown in Fig. Z3, so as to scrape the material from the sides of 3 the pan and throw it toward. the center, while the inner shoes are turned so that their points travel against the central cone, thus preventing the material from settling either at the outside or inside. The intermediate, shoes are made pointed, with the points central.

It the bottom and sides of the tub are made of non-conducting material, I. surround the inner side of the tub, near the bottom, with a l Sen'al N0. 26,234. (N0 model.)

copper, silver, or silver-plated or other metallic rin I, which extendsu 'iwardl a shmt distance from the bottom of the tub. Thenega tive wires .T are connected with this copper ring, passing down the inner sides of the tub through the insulated covmrings K, which prevent actual contact with the contents of the pan, and make connection directly with the copper ring. The anodes consist of a se ries of prepared carbon points, L, the upper ends of which are secured in a flat ring or disk, M, while the lower ends project downward, so that when the disk is suspended at the proper height above the pan these carbons will dip into the material or pulp within the pan, and a current of electricity passes through these carbons through the pulp, and thence to the copper ring I, above described, and through the negative wires J to the source producing the electricity.

The disk M made of wood or other non-conducting material, and upon its upper surface is fixed a copper plate, X, having holes made through it, through which the upper ends of the carbons project. These carbons extend loosely down through the holes, and have heads or transverse pins, which prevent them from slipping down, and they are held in place by means of springs O, which are attached to the upper sides of the plates and press upon the heads of the carbons, serving also to make a thorough contact with the carbons. By turning these springs to one side the carbons are easily removed or replaced.

The disk M is suspended by rods P, which unite at a point above the center olf the disk in a suspending device, having also a screwcup or means [or connecting the positive wires from the dynamos, that the current is properly brought to the disk and the carbons. Each of the series of pans is provided with one or more of these devices, and positive wires R- pass from the screw-cup and connection Q to a switch-board, S, (shown in Fig. 1,) upon which are a series of switches of any well-known form or description, so that the current of electricity, reaching the switchboard through the wire T from the dynamos, may be allowed to pass to one or all of the pans or settlers A at pleasure. .lhis enables me to cut out any one or more of the settlers for repairs 01' other purposes without danger to the workmen, and without stopping the work in the others.

In the present case I have shown two dynamos, U, for producing the electrical current, as many of these being used as may be desired. The positive wires V from these d ynamos are connected with devices for measuring the currents of electricity. These devices being well known, I have not here described them. The wires X lead from these measuring devices to the switches Y, by which either one or more of the dynamos maybe cut out, or their power added to the circuit, the wires beyond the switch Y connecting with the main wire T, above described, and leading thence to the switch-board and settlers. The negative wires Z in like manner connect with the dynamos leading to the settlers connecting with the upper rings, I, as above. described, thus producing a circuit which may be made to pass through all of the vessels, or may be cut off from one or more of them at pleasure. Practical experiment has proved that where metal points are employed as anodes they are very rapidly decomposed, and the metal is thrown into the solution of the pulp, which is objectionable. A great amount of power is also consumed in this manner, all of which objections I overcome by the employment of the carbon anodes, as above described.

The construction herein described enables me to deposit upon the metallic ring or cathode all or nearly all of the fine metal held in apparent solution or mechanical suspense.

Having th us described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for working ores, the pan or tub with the internal copper .ring and the rotating arms or stirrers, in combination with the horizontal wooden ring suspended above the tub, the copper plate forming the upper surface of said ring and perforated to admit the carbons L, which pass loosely through the plates, said carbons having heads or transverse pins at the upper ends, and the movable elastic plates or springs O, pressing upon the heads of the carbons to hold them in contact with the copper plate, substantially as herein described.

2. The tubs having the internal copper rings and the stirrers or arms with the outwardly and inwardly pointed shoes, in combination with the horizontal two-part rings consisting of wooden bases and copper disks suspended above the tub and having depending carbons, spring-plates pressing upon the heads of the carbons, the suspending rods or wires, and the screwconnections through which the disks are suspended and connection made between them and the positive wires of the dynamo, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JULIO II. RAE.

Vitnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, II. (3. LEE. 

